Systems and methods for dynamic building evacuation

Abstract

A disclosure and claims to systems and methods for allowing rapid detection and display of an emergency condition using a plurality of specially-constructed multifunction sensors and display units, which allow building evacuation plans to be evaluated, modified, and transmitted to building occupants.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A building emergency evacuation system comprising:
 one or more legacy sensors each adapted to generate a first signal; 
 one or more sensor and signal units, comprising:
 a ceiling-recessed smoke sensor cavity adapted to generate a second signal; 
 a signal housing adapted to display evacuation information; 
 connecting structure joining the smoke sensor cavity and the signal housing, the connecting structure comprising a plurality of vents adapted to permit smoke flow into the cavity; and 
 a microcontroller adapted to (i) receive an evacuation signal comprising information associated with an evacuation plan, and (ii) cause said signal housing to display evacuation information based on the evacuation plan; 
 
 one or more pull stations comprising one or more of a motion sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, smoke sensor, noise sensor, or pressure sensor, the one or more pull stations adapted to generate a third signal; and 
 a local control unit coupled to the legacy sensors, sensor and signal units and pull stations, and adapted to (i) detect either the first signal, second signal, or third signal, (ii) generate the evacuation signal; and 
 a set of software instructions stored in a remote control station comprising a database, the set of software instructions adapted to interface with the local control unit and to permit real-time modification of the evacuation plan by an authority having jurisdiction. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the local control unit is further adapted to autonomously generate the evacuation plan. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control station database is located in a personal computing device. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal housing is omnidirectional. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the signal housing comprises high intensity signal lights. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the high intensity signal lights comprise multi-color LEDs. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal housing comprises multifunction displays.